Rectal electrode



"June 29, 1937. B. J. Fl-:Rclo'r A RECTAL ELECTRODE Filed Apri-1 29, 1935 the internal sphincter,

Patented June 29, 1937 UNITED STATES y piatti PATENT OFFICE RECTAL ELECTRODE Bert J. Ferciot, East Canton, Ohio Application April 29, 1935, Serial No. 18,795

4 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 407) The invention relates to electrotherapeutic instrumentsandmore particularly to an improved rectal electrode. Y

An object of the invention is to provide a rectal electrode having a` bulbousimetal head or tip adapted to 'be inserted into the bowel and toI seat against the internal sphincter, and having a reduced neck or stem connected `to an insulated handle, there beingA an annular collar or projection upon the handle at a point spaced from the joint of said neck with the handle, said collar being `adapted to seat against the external sphincter of the rectum, the bulbous head of the electrode being thus held iirmly against the internal sphincter solas to carry the current to the nerves of `the rectal portion of the colon and while the insulated handle is held in contact with the external sphincter and the outer portion of the rectum, preventing any harmful electrical action upon these parts.

The above and other objects, readily apparent from an inspection of the drawing andthe following description, may be attained by providingyaninsulation handle having an `annular collar or projection spaced from its inner end, a metal rod being located longitudinally through said handle, and a bulbous metal head or tip bein-g iixed to said rod and having a reduced neck adjacent to the handle, the headand the annular collar upon the handle being so spaced thatthey will seat against thev inner and outer sphincters of the rectum, respectively, so as to hold the electrode firmly in the proper position, the collar upon the handle preventing the electrode from being accidentally inserted beyond the proper point. e

An embodiment of the invention thus Set forth in general terms isl illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevatio-n of a rectal electrode constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional view of the same; and

Fig. 3, a view of the electrode placed in the rectum, showing its relation to the internal and external sphincters, and the manner in which it holds itself firmly in the proper position.

Similar numerals refer tosimilar parts throughout the drawing.

Although, for the purpose of illustration, a medium size of the improved electrode is shown in the accompanying drawing, it should be understood that for various cases` vfor both children and adults, the electrodes are made in different sizes, a complete set for all purposes preferably comprising` seven different size electrodes, with heads or tips graduated in diameter from veeighthsV ,of` an inch' to one `and three-eighths inches, increasing in diameter one-eighth inch to each. size, and the distance between the bulbous 5 projection of the head or tip and the annular collar or projection upon the insulated handle varying from three-fourths of an inch, in` the childrens size,xto oneand one-fourthinches in the large adult size.- Otherwise each size of the 10 electrode is as shown in the drawing and hereinafter described. i

The improved electrode includes a bulbous metal head or' tip IU, generally tapered toward its free end, which is rounded as shown in Figs. 1 15 and 2, whichrnay be 'of brass or othervsuitable metal, preferably hollow as shown, in order to reduce the weight ofthe instrument, this head being preferably provided with a relatively short neck Il, forming a-shoulder at the larger end of the head, by means of which the head or tip is attached to the `insulation handle shown generally at |72. 1 This insulation handle is provided with an annular collarvor projection I3, located at a dis- 2 tance from theinner or forward end of the handle substantially equal tothe length of the neck II. This inner Yend portion of the handle, designated at I4, is also preferably of the same diameter as the neck I I, so as to form a smooth, subu stantially cylindric surface from the collar I3 to the head or tip I0. A

The handle may be formed of hard rubber or other suitable insulation material, and is provided with a central bore I5, within which is located the rod I6, of brass or other suitable metal, projecting beyond the outer end of the handle, as at I1, for the connection of a wire I8, leading to one side of any suitable source of electric current as indicated at I9. 1

T'he inner end of the conductor rod I6 extends beyond the inner end of the handle and is preferably screw threaded as shown at I 6', to receive the Vnut or butt platej20which is externally threaded as at 20', to receive the internally 45 threaded neck II of the head or tip, by means of which the head .may be detachably secured upon the handle.

In using the improved electrode for the treatment of constipation and the like, the proper size electrode is selected and connected to the wire I8. The head or tip of the electrode is then inserted into the rectum, as shown in Fig. 3, being pushed in to the point where the annular collar I3 upon the insulation handle engages the external 55 portion of the colon and the internal sphincter,

while the insulation handle extends'inward to a point midway between the external and internal sphincters, thus protecting the external sphincter from any harmful eiect of the current.

For the purpose of completing the circuit, an

t electrode 2|, in the form of a plate' or the like,

may be connected to the other side oi the source of electric current I9, as by a wire 22, and may be placedupon any suitable portion of the body of the patient under treatment. Another electrode 23, also in the form of a plate, is also preferably attached tofthe same side of the source of current as the electrode 2|., as by the wire 24, and may be placed in contact with a suitable part of the body as Yshowin in the drawing.

I claim: Y

1. A rectal electrode including a bulbous metal head generally tapered toward its free end, which is rounded,.and insertable :through the rectum ,and into the rectal portion of the colon, an insulation handle uponV which said head is mounted,

a conductor rod locatedr through said handle and connected tosaid head, means for connecting said conductor in an electric circuit, anda projection upon said handle at a point so spaced from said head that said projection will engage the external sphincter of the rectum at the same time that vthe larger portion ofthe bulbous head engages the internal sphincter so as to hold the electrode inl position tocarry the current to the nerves of the rectal portion of the colon and the internal Y sphincter while the external sphincter is protected from the current the electrode havinga straight, central, longitudinal' axis passing through the insulation projection and handle and through the rounded free end of the head.

2. A rectal electrode including a bulbous metal head generally tapered toward its free end which is rounded, and insertable through the rectum and into the rectal portion of the colon, and having a reduced metal neck forming a shoulder at the larger end of thev head, an'insulation handle to which said neck is connected, a conductor rod located through said handle and connected to said head, means for connecting said conductor in an electric circuit, and a projection upon said handle at a pointrso spaced from said head that said projection will engage the external sphincter of the rectum at the same time that the shoulder of 'the bulbous head engages the internal sphincter soV as to hold the electrode in position to carry the current to the nerves of the rectal portion of the colon and the internal sphincter while the external sphincter is protected from the current, the joint between the insulation handle and neck being located between the external and internal sphincters the electrode having a straight,v

Vas saidl neck and connected thereto, a conductor located through said insulation handle and connected to said head, means for connecting said conductor in an electric circuit, and an insulation projection upon said handle at a point so spaced irornl the head that said projection will engage the external; sphincter of the rectum at the same time that the shoulder of the bulbous head engages the internal Vsphincter'so as to hold the electrode in position to carry the current to the nerves of the rectal portion of the colon and the internal sphincter while the external sphincter is protected from'the current, the joint between theinsulation handle and neck being spaced substantially the same distance from the bulbous head and insulation projection the electrode having a straight, central, longitudinal axis passing through the insulation projection and handle and through the rounded free end of the head.

'4. A rectal electrode including a bulbous metal head generally tapered toward its free end which is rounded, and insertable through the rectum and into the rectal portion of the colon, and having a reduced metal neck forming a shoulder at the larger end of the head, an insulation handle having an inner end portion of the same diameter as said neck and connected thereto, a conductor located through said insulation handle and connected to said head, means for connecting said conductor in anelectric circuit, and an insulation projection upon said handle at a point spaced trom the shoulder a distance substantially the same as the length of the head so that said projection will engage the external sphincter of the rectum at the same time the shoulder of the bulbous head engages the internal sphincter so as to hold the electrode in position to carry the current to the nerves of' the rectal portion of the colon and the internal sphincter while the external sphincter is protected from the current, the joint between the insulation handle and neck being spaced substantially the same distance from the shoulder and insulation projection, the electrode having a. straight, central, longitudinal axis passing through the insulation projection and handle and through the rounded free end of the head. Y

BERT J. FERCIOT. 

